“Zero Evictions and Foreclosures” National Training in Philadelphia: February 5th – 7th

PPEHRC National Education, Organizing, Arts and Culture Center
1542 E. Montgomery Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19125
267-273-0932 or 267-439-8419
phillyppehrc@gmail.com

Join PPEHRC for a weekend of training, networking, and movement building to end poverty. Please email phillyppehrc@gmail.com to register now! Include name, contact info, organization (if any), number of people you will bring, and any special needs you may have.

SEE MORE DETAILS BELOW AGENDA

Housing is a human right!

AGENDA
Friday, Feb. 5th
5 – 8 pm: Arrivals, Unpacking, Dinner
8 – 9 pm: Introductions, Local Struggles & Local Organizing
9 – 10 pm: Role of Nonviolent Civil Disobedience, History of PPEHRC Housing Takeovers & Tent Cities
10 pm: Social time & sleep

Saturday, Feb. 6th
8 am – 9 am: Breakfast
9 – 10 am: PPEHRC Organizing Model
10 am - 1 pm: Visit takeover house
1 pm – 2 pm: Lunch/ Break
2 – 7 pm: WORKSHOP – How to Do Housing Takeovers & Resist Foreclosures
7 – 7:30 pm: Dinner/ Break
7:30 – 8:30 pm: Debrief, Questions
8:30 – 9 pm: Travel to West Philly
9 pm: Party & Fundraiser in West Philly! 4940 Cedar Ave., Phila, PA 19143

Organizing Tools:
Takeover Handbook
Takeover web clips
Land struggles
Tent Cities - current one in CA

Sunday, Feb. 7th
8 – 9 am: Breakfast
9 – 10 am: March to Fulfill the Dream/ May 1st Housing Takeovers/ US Social Forum
10 – 11am: Movement Building – Building relationships with artists, allies, & community groups
11 – 12 pm: Debrief, Questions, Closing
12 pm: Lunch, Departures

GO ORGANIZE!!!

Things to bring and consider:

Everyone is strongly encouraged to attend every session of the weekend training since we are dealing with serious situations and are concerned for people's safety when applying these lessons.

If attending please bring a financial contribution to pay for the Center, food costs, transportation, etc. $15 - $150 suggested donations - no one will be turned away for lack of funds. People with organizational resources are asked to give more.

Housing is available at the Center. If you are planning on sleeping over, please let us know in advance and bring sleeping bags and warm clothes.

Also, bring writing materials.

Please email phillyppehrc@gmail.com now to register! We hope to see you soon!

Labels: Foreclosure, Zero Evictions

Original Article: http://thedp.com/article/penn-haven-protests-poverty
1/29/2010



Students from Penn Haven join other activist groups in a Center City demonstration against federal foreclosures

A group of about 50 protesters blocked off the junction outside the Federal Building. The rally was among a series of protests aross the country calling for a freeze on foreclosures.

Amid a chorus of chanting, drumming and singing, Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign member Jeff Rousset said, “I might get arrested later.”

A group of about 50 protesters blocked off the junction outside the Federal Building. The rally was among a series of protests aross the country calling for a freeze on foreclosures.

Spearheaded by PPEHRC, the protesters included students from Penn Haven.

Penn Haven’s mission is to learn how to best serve the homeless community, and it is “looking into all methods of getting equality for the homeless” College senior and Penn Haven member Jessie Streich-Kest said.

According to lead organizer, Cheri Honkala, “We have a federal emergency.”

As the recession drives more and more people from their homes out on to the streets, the group of demonstrators took to the streets. In addition to PPEHRC and Penn Haven, Kensington Welfare Rights Union and others partook in the rally.

“Last night Obama didn’t really mention anything about housing,” said KWRU member Natasha Euler.

According to Euler, the protesters were there to make sure that the government resolves the housing crisis.

“We see families everyday who come in to our office with small children who are homeless — we think that this is an emergency,” she said.

The activists’ answer to the housing crisis is a combination of protests for long-term gain and setting up the homeless in abandoned homes until the housing crisis abates, according to Honkala and Rousset.

Rousset’s explained his justification for squatting: “People are more important than property.”

The winter is especially cruel to the homeless, according to Honkala, and “it’s more important to keep people alive” than to stay within the bounds of the law.

No one was arrested at yesterday’s rally. Philadelphia Police Captain William Fisher said, “As long as it’s a peaceful protest … we’ll tolerate street blockages.”

But Honkala, who has been arrested during the course of prior protests, said facing down the police is part of PPEHRC’s plan to draw attention its cause.

“We really need to show our elected officials that we’re serious,” Honkala said.

Honkala said, “We will start to have arrests.”

Penn Haven Activism Coordinator and former Daily Pennsylvanian staff writer College senior Jimmy Tobias had prepared himself for arrest. He was one of the eight Penn students who attended.

“What we’re trying to do … is to be in solidarity with [the community],” Tobias said.

PThe housing crisis isn’t exactly going to disappear anytime soon, College senior and Penn Haven member Elena Stein said. But “as we listen to out neighbors … it becomes more clear how to help.”

For now, she said, the answer is still nebulous. “Come back to me in 10 years about that.”

01/29/2010

Labels: Federal Building, Foreclosure, KWRU, Penn Haven, PPEHRC

Kangaroo Court to be convened Monday, February 1st at 4:30pm
Join the "Minnesota Four" resisters and supporters in front of Barbara Byrd's duplex in Brooklyn Park. We'll carpool from Hiawatha and Lake Street-directions will follow on Wednesday.

Barbara STILL has not received ANY response from EMC Mortgage to her request that she remain three more months in her home. You'll witness a reenactment of Judge Alton's dismissing Barbara's case on October 22nd, 2009 -hissing and booing welcome. (Some background on her case available at www.mnppehrc.wordpress.com where you can search on Barbara Byrd.)

Next you'll hear the POWERFUL PEOPLE's COURT rule in favor of Barbara against EMC Mortgage who assumed her Kangaroo Adjustable Rate Mortgage that she took out in 2005. She's been trying to get her loan modified ever since her payments jumped to an outrageous level two years ago. Heard at last, heard at last, great God almighty she is heard at last!

Updates on Linda Norenberg, Leslie Parks, and Ann Patterson
More good news for Linda! Chase bank returned to the table with an even better offer with payments that she can in fact afford on her family home in Robbinsdale. The bank has yet to document their offer in writing, so she will be holding out until her terms ARE met!

Leslie recently settled with the bank regarding her illegal lockout! Currently she is in negotiation to save her house in south Minneapolis.

Ann is into her fourth month of making trial payments to Wells Fargo on her Mineapolis home on a temporary basis. Meanwhile, while her frustration-level continues to rise as over and over again, the bank keeps demanding more documentation. Time may be on her side. The NYTimes just reported Friday that the Treasury will introduce changes next week to help fend off foreclosures, quoting a Valparaiso professor, the "Treasury has to find a way to compel the banks to take a hit." Our response-duh! The PEOPLE've been saying that for years...

SO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS AS WE HEIGHTEN PUBLIC AWARENESS, IN FEBRUARY, OF THE DEEPENING FORECLOSURE CRISIS IN MINNEAPOLIS, BROOKLYN PARK, AND ROBBINSDALE.

Labels: Barbara Byrd, EMC Bank, Foreclosure, Linda Norenberg, MN PPEHRC

The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) will conduct an education and training session on the Right to Housing and Housing Actions from Feb 5th-Feb 7th at its National Center for Education, Organizing and Culture in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
DOWNLOAD THE FLYER

The nature and causes of the “housing crisis”--which is actually a chronic reality for millions in the United States—will be analyzed. A primary skill focus will be on non-violent direct actions to promote the Zero Evictions Campaign and to secure the Right to Housing as defined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Global and National Zero Evictions Campaign and the struggle for the Right to HOusing will be tied to the upcoming United States Social Forum in Detroit and PPEHRC's March for Our Lives from New Orleans to the US Social Forum this spring.

The sessions and lodging will be held at:
PPEHRC Center for Education, Organizing and Culture
1542 E. Montgomery Ave., 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19125
267-273-093

Labels: Foreclosure, PPEHRC, Training

Trial to stave off activist's eviction gets pushed back for more talks


GMAC Mortgage wants "further conversations" with Rosemary Williams and attorneys. Some had vowed disobedience in protest.

By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune

Last update: April 28, 2009 - 9:00 PM

A trial to evict a Minneapolis woman from her
foreclosed house has been rescheduled for
May 26 after the mortgage company that now
owns the house said it wanted to have
"further conversations" with the woman and
her attorneys.

The trial had been scheduled to begin
Tuesday. But at a news conference,
Rosemary Williams, who lost her house on
the 3100 block of Clinton Avenue to
foreclosure in September, said lawyers from
GMAC Mortgage, the new owner, had called
her attorney to ask for the postponement
and raised the possibility of negotiating with
her.

Jeannine Bruin, executive director of
mortgage communications for GMAC
Financial Services, declined to comment on
what was being discussed.

After Williams failed to leave the house by
March 30, GMAC went to court to have her
evicted by sheriff's deputies. At a hearing last
week, Williams' attorneys asked for a trial on
the issues.

Several groups that support a foreclosure
moratorium have vowed to use civil
disobedience to prevent her eviction.

Williams said she had been unable to make
escalating payments on a second mortgage.

In court papers, her attorney Jordan
Kushner said GMAC "should not be permitted
to harm the community for purposes of
property speculation, particularly where it is
receiving billions of dollars in federal
taxpayer funds for the ostensible purpose of
helping homeowners avoid foreclosure."

While declining to discuss Williams' case,
Bruin said "in general," once GMAC buys a
foreclosure house, its typical options are to
market it individually or combine it with
other properties it owns and sell it to
investors.

"It can be marketed as vacant or may be
marketed as tenant-occupied," she said. "We
do have a program called 'cash for keys' that
provides funding to the borrower for
relocation assistance, and we can also work
with the borrower on a reasonable timeline
to vacate the property."

Randy Furst • 612-673-7382

Labels: Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, MN PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Fredrick Douglass declared in his 1857 speech, "If there is no struggle there is no progress."..and."Power concedes nothing without a demand." Looking back over 2009, a year of hope amid despair, we activists made progress indeed through almost constant struggle.THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!

Galvanizing neighborhoodsIn January we started moving homeless families into vacant houses only to see the police quickly force people back out into the cold. So we launched the Underground Railroad in February as a way for people to help one another in time of need by physically moving those who are being evicted, storing their possessions, and providing temporary shelter.

Rosemary's refusing to leaveBy March, calls from the homeless declined as homeowners facing foreclosure started contacting us, reporting that banks were giving them the run-around. We brought in a social justice legal team to support Rosemary Williams' fight to save her home while our volunteers petitioned her neighborhood and joined demonstrations to stop sheriff sales on into April. Thus began joint actions with the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout.
Spreading resistanceFrequent press conferences and demonstrations, pressuring the banks to remodify adjustable rate mortgage loans like Rosemary's, caught the attention of the media. As spring turned into summer, other at-risk homeowners drew inspiration from Rosemary's resolve to stay in her house. Soon they too stepped out from their private lives to join the resistance. Martin Luther King Jr. once described this radicalization process: "An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." Our own Leslie Parks remembers, "I had always lived a quiet life under the radar until the bank foreclosed on my mom." Today Leslie's home is a bold public display of her stand for social justice.

Fighting in CourtIn June, Rosemary's lawyers and finance giant GMAC's lawyers went to court. To the shock of the courtroom full of supporters, the judge denied all of Rosemary's motions. Later in a follow-up conference call again sided with GMAC, effectively stopping future negotiations.
"The courtroom, one of the supposed bastions of democracy, is essentially a tyranny. The judge is monarch," as Howard Zinn pointed out in Declarations of Independence. So it should have come as no surprise when Barbara Byrd, one of our longest-fighting resisters, filed a motion against her bank for violations, that the judge threw her case out of court leaving supporters stunned, her lawyer gasping. Barbara filed an immediate appeal, then called for a healing.

Communities coming togetherMN Clergy and Laity Against Foreclosures and Evictions drew neighborhood and faith communities together by conducting an August prayer vigil in front of Rosemary's, and a prayer meeting on the north side in the weeks that followed. Food poured in for supporters and neighbors who joined the 33-day 24/hour occupation of Rosemary's home after her first eviction that protesters thwarted.

Exposing Mortgage lending negligence and incompetenceThe U.S. "Constitution set up a government that the rich could depend on to protect their property," (again, from Howard Zinn). The result? Our system not only is unjust, but grossly inefficient. Take for example large financial institutions with problems in inter-departmental communication. Barbara Byrd on December 22nd received notification from her lender that they owed her $19.67 for a previous inspection. Remember, Barbara's duplex had been in foreclosure for months, with eviction imminent since July. Moreover, the bank's lawyers have YET to respond to her October appeal!

Leslie Parks endured not one but TWO illegal lockouts from her house by the bank. Apparently the right hand (administration) did not know what the left (inspections and foreclosure) was doing. The first illegal lockout took place in May BEFORE the sheriff's sale and the second happened December 8th, eight days after the end of her redemption period. Leslie with her lawyer and supporters will take the bank to court for this one at 9am on January 21st.

Declaring victoriesMartin Luther King, Jr. believed that "Direct action and legal action complement one another; when skillfully employed, each becomes more effective." At a November press conference in front of the Leslie Parks' house as eviction day approached, an independent reporter asked what could we do? "Call the bank," Leslie replied. After just three days of flooding the bank with calls from supporters and members of the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout with contacts from all over, the bank cancelled the sheriff's sale and CAME TO THE TABLE November 30th. The bank asked her what terms she wanted to get her house back! On December 9th the CEO personally CALLED her to apologize for the second lockout, thereby placing her in an unprecedented strong negotiating position.
In August, Linda Norenberg and Ann Patterson told their stories on KFAI radio featuring the "Minnesota Five." Three minutes after one broadcast, a lawyer who resides in Robbinsdale where Linda lives called to volunteer Linda her services. Suddenly the bank was on the defensive, ready-after over seven months-to negotiate. Meanwhile, Ann, after more than eight months of desperate attempts to renegotiate her loan with the bank, looks forward to the possibility of a permanent solution in January.

Turning setbacks into opportunitiesRosemary bravely proclaimed "IT's NOT OVER" after her brutal eviction on 9/11. Protesters who were arrested that night must make their first court appearance in January. The stress of fighting foreclosure took a heavy toll on the well-being of resisters and families. James Blair, Ona Kingbird, and countless others were forced to pick up pieces of their lives move on, leaving their blocks in desolation. While Rosemary still remains homeless, she is being invited to speak and inspiring others around the country- even across the Atlantic!! She has learned that residents of countries like Denmark and Sweden are shocked at the extent of U.S. mortgage loan fraud, past and present.

Unstoppable momentum thrusting us into 2010
Democracy Now reported as climate talks closed in Copenhagen."the US slammed through a flimsy agreement that was negotiated behind closed doors." Yet "concerned citizens who marched, held vigils and sent messages to their leaders helped to create unstoppable momentum in the global movement for climate justice." Back here in Minnesota while bankers meet behind closed doors, outside we shall continue to build momentum toward a two-year moratorium on foreclosures and evictions. We will keep up the pressure for support of politicians and community organizations for those in need of shelter, and increase public awareness of the OUR COLLECTIVE POWER to effect change during this ever-deepening crisis. Onward!

Check out our New Year's website! www.mnppehrc.wordpress.com/

Labels: Foreclosure, Leslie Parks, Linda Norenberg, MN PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

The Scoop on Leslie's lockout
Finally, after a long day, Leslie Parks is back in her home! This morning, we went to Housing Court and filed papers against IndyMac/One West for doing an unlawful lockout. In a preliminary order, the judge ruled that IndyMac must let Leslie back in her home.

Next we met with Leslie's lawyer who is eager to take her case, particularly since the bank did this to her before. Meanwhile, THE CEO of IndyMac, Terry Laughlin, CALLED LESLIE PERSONALLY, leaving a message that included an apology!!! Later on the phone, through her lawyer, Terry Laughlin explained that they were taking full responsibility for the lockout, and again he wished to offer great apologies to the Parks family. "I want to become personally involved in this" he added. He also said that locksmiths had been standing by outside Leslie's house for hours, waiting for us.

It took the locksmiths over two hours to fix all the locks at Leslie's house. In all eight locks had to be replaced - including padlocked closet doors in the basement and interior of the house - there was a lot of senseless damage done to wrench open locked doors.

NEXT LEGAL STEP:
Housing Court Hearing regarding the illegal lockout.
Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 8:30 a.m.
Hennepin County Government Center, Third floor

Thanks to everyone who spread the word and did calls so we were able to get this outcome. We will never stop the pressure until Leslie gets her house back at terms she can afford!

Minnesota Coalition for a People’s Bailout: 612-822-8020, mn-peoples-bailout.org
Poor People’s Economic Human Campaign: 651-497-4644, economichumanrights.org

Update on Linda Norenberg
Good news! Chase bank returned to the table with a better offer, more affordable, but with payments still too high for comfort.
Linda is getting more hopeful that negotiations can proceed in her favor. One by one, we can keep families together and SAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS!

Upcoming Video Productions
Barbara Byrd is still in her home and has heard not one word from EMC bank. So rather than sit around anxiously, she has decided to put up lights and decorate for the holidays! In a few weeks, she and Linda will appear on a program produced by Eric Angel at SPNN (time/date to be announced). All of the Minnesota Five foreclosure resisters were together in-studio this week taping a public access (MTN) documentary that is being produced by Luis Alvrenga. His work involves training the homeless in video production-camera, sound, lighting, editing. The focus of the documentary will be on how the MN Five are fighting foreclosure. Also on the panel is Donna Fletcher speaking for the thousands of renters in our state who face homelessness due to eviction.

HISTORY PROVES THAT IF WE KEEP ON FIGHTING INJUSTICE, THE STRONGER WE BECOME UNTIL AT LAST, BULLIES BACK DOWN. BUT WE CANNOT GO UP AGAINST THEM ALONE....Also the longer we suffer in silence and allow bullying to continue, the worse it gets.
Peace Everyone . . . .

Labels: Barbara Byrd, Chase Home Mortgage, EMC Bank, Foreclosure, Foreclosure 5, Hennepin County, IndyMac, Leslie Parks, Linda Norenberg, Minneapolis, MN PPEHRC, One West

by Jeff Rousset | Philly Indymedia Center | 12.05.2009

Original Article: http://phillyimc.org/en/philly-protesters-seize-street-demand-housing-rights

Police watched as more than 100 people blocked a busy intersection at 6th and Market yesterday, near the Federal Building, to call attention to the nation's housing crisis.

Police watched as more than 100 people blocked a busy intersection at 6th and Market yesterday, near the Federal Building, to call attention to the nation's housing crisis. Speakers questioned national priorities, with President Obama sending 30,000 more soldiers to Afghanistan as thousands of Americans continue to be pushed into poverty and homelessness. The group, organized by Kensington Welfare Rights Union and the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, demanded a moratorium on evictions, and vowed massive nationwide civil disobedience at the end of January if Obama has not taken adequate steps to address the housing issue.

Protesters gathered at the Federal Building at 11 am holding signs and banners, wearing colorful cardboard houses, beating drums in rhythm, and chanting “What do we want? Housing! When do we want it? Now!” Lead by about a dozen disabled individuals in wheelchairs, the group marched to the intersection of 6th and Market and picketed in a large circle, blockading the entire intersection, before converging on the south side of the intersection and blocking traffic across all of 6th Street. A number of people spoke to the gathered crowd, including two women whose homes were recently foreclosed.

“I was renting a home and received a letter stating my house was going up for foreclosure because the owner had not been paying his mortgage. A week later the sheriff was knocking on my door giving me five minutes to leave,” said Starleen Pringle, a longtime resident of Philadelphia.

Pringle said she was forced to immediately leave her home of three years, along with her nine year old daughter and seven year old son, even though she already paid full rent for the month.

“I wasn't even allowed to get school clothes for my daughter the next day,” said Pringle. “They said, 'If you touch or take anything we're gonna lock you up.'” She had to make an appointment to later return to her house and collect all her belongings under a sheriff's supervision.

“Every 15 seconds in this country someone's home is foreclosed!” announced Cheri Honkala, one of the rally organizers, and a national organizer for the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC). “We want to know what the government is going to do for these people!”

PPEHRC organized similar rallies across the country and demanded that the Obama administration make housing its top priority and increase the federal government's funding for affordable housing to the $83 billion dollar level it was at in 1978.
Honkala criticized the government for bailing out banks and corporations, and spending tens of billions of dollars to escalate war, while neglecting the swelling masses of Americans who are living in poverty and homelessness.

“Bail out the people, not the banks!” the group chanted in unison.

Another Philadelphia woman whose home was recently foreclosed spoke on the megaphone. “I'm homeless with my children,” she said with both her daughters, aged two and four, by her side. “I'm living in my car now. I want the government to get me a house so my kids don't get taken away from me by DHS.”

PPEHRC is demanding that Philadelphia immediately take measures to house its entire homeless population, which numbers around 4,000 people on any given day.
Last month dozens of people gathered at City Hall with the AIDS advocacy group ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) to pressure Mayor Nutter to provide housing for the 8,000 people living in Philadelphia with HIV/AIDS who do not have access to adequate housing, one of the worst records for AIDS housing in any American city. People who are disabled and/or living with diseases are particularly hard hit by the nation's lack of housing and health care.

As the economic crisis continues to strangle poor and working Americans, the numbers of homeless keep rising in Philadelphia and throughout the country. Meanwhile, many of the banks that received billions of dollars in federal taxpayer bailout funds are the same ones evicting people and taking their homes. The banks keep posting high and even record profits. The people keep paying the price.

PPEHRC and the Kensington Welfare Rights Union announced that if President Obama does not adequately address the housing crisis there will be massive civil disobedience planned at federal buildings across the nation at the end of January, including Philadelphia. The highly energized crowd seemed fearless and ready for this escalation, even with police officers watching closely.

As one of the speakers said to the crowd, “The war is not over there in Afghanistan. It's right here in America!” The nonviolent soldiers seemed determined to keep fighting for economic justice until all their demands are met, and everyone has access to adequate housing.

The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is a national coalition of over a hundred groups building a multiracial movement to unite the poor and fight for economic justice and human rights. Their website is http://www.economichumanrights.org .

The Kensington Welfare Rights Union, according to their website, is “a multiracial organization led by poor and homeless families organizing for Economic Human Rights in the poorest district of Pennsylvania.” Their website is http://www.kwru.org .

Labels: Affordable Housing, Cheri Honkala, Foreclosure, KWRU, Obama, Philadelphia, PPEHRC, Starleen Pringle

// posted by Arun @ 7:25 AM 0 Comments

The Minnesota Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign is calling for community support to fight the imminent eviction of Leslie Parks from the duplex where she has lived for 21 years. Tents are pitched on her lawn with signs like “10% of homelessness results from foreclosure.” Press conference to be held at Ms. Parks’ at 3749 Park Ave. South in Mpls. tomorrow, Wednesday, October 21st, at 4:30 pm.

The redemption period for the Parks’ residence ends November 20th , 2009. Now is the time for the community to show support for
our Minnesota Five women who are resisting foreclosure.


--Press conference--
Wednesday, October 21st, 4:30 p.m.
Leslie’s duplex: 3749 Park Ave. S, Minneapolis


Foreclosure evictions push people into homelessness. To highlight this crisis, tents will be going up not only in the Parks’ yard but in the yard of Ann Patterson who is in pre-foreclosure, desperately trying for months to negotiate with Wells Fargo to lower her mortgage payments. Both Ann and Leslie work full time. More encampments will go up on college campuses in the area. They will call attention to big financial institutions that get billions of dollars to avoid losses from their bad loans, while victimized homeowners still get thrown out on the street.

Winter is upon us. The current housing crisis is so DEEP that we are urging emergency passage of a foreclosure-moratorium bill that our governor vetoed last spring. This Wednesday we are launching a foreclosure moratorium petition drive throughout the city to let legislators know that ACTION IS NEEDED AT ONCE.

Labels: Ann Patterson, Foreclosure, Foreclosure Five, Homelessness, Leslie Parks, MN PPEHRC, Tent City, Wells Fargo

MN PPEHRC: Recap of Week of Oct 9th
POLITICIANS CONTINUE TO STALL ON HOUSING CRISIS
WE DEMAND AN EMERGENCY MORATORIUM AND WILL LAUNCH A PETITION DRIVE
Where the MN 5 are as of October 9th
Barbara Byrd needing our support in district court coming up a week from Wednesday at 1pm, Oct. 21st
Linda Norenberg waiting to hear about possible offer from her lender
Ann Patterson told by Wells Fargo she must gather documents to prove that
Leslie Parks installing placard in from of her home ticking off foreclosures at 1.5 million estimated by www.responsiblelending.org; with 13 million in next 5 years...Hmmm, what crisis?

Rosemary Williams continuing to inspire others' resistance, welcoming flowers on Clinton Ave. home fence-Leslie has permanent flowers to give those who'd rather not leave fresh flowers to die. Read Rosemary's World Habitat Day comments (see link below).
Thurs. Oct. 8th: MN Clergy and Laity Against Foreclosure and Evictions
meeting at the Mayor's office
Rev. Loren McGrail arranged a meeting with mayor Policy Aide Cara Letofsky who gathered with clergy, the Mpls. Foreclosure project coordinator, and a foreclosure counselor. Rev. McGrail declared the meeting to be the beginning a "relationship" around how to deal with the crisis. Key questions raised were how to get the banks to do right, and how to pay for utilities once landlords bail out if a moratorium were issued. Mark Van Steenwyk will be setting up a Google group for the faith-based initiative.
Tues. Oct. 6th: Northside Community Summit: The housing crisis: What Can We Do?
Sponsored by the Bailout coalition and other groups, some attendees were renters whose voices NEED TO BE HEARD. The main result? "Contact your representatives." Gosh I never thought of that!!


Mon. Oct. 5th in Mpls: Ellison's Forum on the Foreclosure Crisis Identifying Problems and Sharing Solutions
Ellison kept repeating... politicians cannot lead on this-initiatives must come from the people! Leslie Parks and others raised the roof!




Monday, Oct. 5th in DC

Four of the MN Five at U.S. HUD in DC
We picketed outside and then attended sessions in conjunction with Zero Evictions Days and World Habitat Day. Security forces were diverted by Cheri and the MN resisters, but despite the secret service, Rosemary briefly was able to get to the microphone. We were joined by the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), the National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT), as well as the General Secretary of the Habitat International Coalition (HIC), the leading global housing rights coalition, headquartered in Santiago, Chile.
That afternoon Cheri Honkala led our MN/Mississippi/PA contingent to Capitol Hill for sessions with staff at the offices of MN Representatives Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison,Travis Childer (Miss), Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters (CA). They listened and took notes on our stories from THE PEOPLE (they usually hear from lobbyists). Most promising was the response from California legislative assistant Chris Lee who invited us to return to DC for a briefing on the crisis from the perspective of homeowners in foreclosure. Best of all, Ms. Waters' aide offered to help us if Keith Ellison lets us down!
For slides and an account of PPEHRC at World Habitat Day:

http://old.economichumanrights.org/m4ol/dailyreport/labels/International%20Alliance%20of%20Inhabitants.html


For further information
Contact the MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
Cheri Honkala: 267-439-8419 Lynette Malles 651-497-4644

Labels: Foreclosure, Linda Norenberg, MN PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams, World Zero Evictions Days 2009

MN Clergy and Laity Against Foreclosures and Evictions

Fall 2009

Rev. Loren McGrail, lorenmcgrail@mac.com


Pastoral support for “Five” women resisting evictions (counseling, home visitation including home blessing, accompaniment to court)

Download Flyer for MN Clergy and Laity Against Foreclosures & Evictions (.rtf format)


Creating prayer vigils, prayer meetings (Rev. Reff at Wayman AME and Rev. Denise Dunbar-Perkins, from Westminister) and other ways to support the women and connect people of faith with the campaign to stop foreclosures and evictions


Worship materials (theological reflection, prayers, sermon—Table Scraps or the One Whole Loaf by Rev. McGrail


Articles : Sojourner Magazine article by Mark Van Steenwyk (Mennonite pastor)


Attending meeting with different coalition groups


Join marches and speak-outs with MN Poor People’s Economic and Human Rights Campaign or MN Coalition for a People’s Bailout on the issues including asking the Mayor for a Foreclosure Moratorium


Other ideas for churches:

Assist in fundraising for women so they can hold onto their homes or buy them back


Adult Education Forum on the foreclosure crisis---with coalition folk or the women


Needs

Financial support for web developer and website; setting up group list

Budget for office supplies for printing and photocopying,

Mileage & phone

$$$ for organizing time with women, coalitions, & faith communities

Coordinating the Clergy and Laity Group (emails, meetings)

Labels: Eviction, Foreclosure, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, Rev. Loren McGrail

From Glass Bead Collective:
Rosemary Williams and four other Minnesota women have decided to resist the foreclosure and eviction monster that's destroying our communities. People from the Twin Cities are helping these women defy eviction, the Hennepin County Sheriff, and the big banks that want to steal their homes. Produced by Twin Cities Indymedia http://tc.indymedia.org and the Poor Peoples Economic Human Rights Campaign http://economichumanrights.org

Labels: economy, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Housing, human rights, IndyMac, Mayor Rybak, Minneapolis, Minnesota, MN, Police, PPEHRC, Protest, Rosemary Williams

By Paul Demko 9/14/09 5:43 PM
Original Article: http://minnesotaindependent.com/44799/gmac-mortgage-details-efforts-to-help-rosemary-williams

GMAC Mortgage went to extraordinary lengths to help keep Rosemary Williams, who was evicted on Friday after a foreclosure, in her home, according to the company. Among the steps taken: offering to lease the house back to Williams for $850 per month, multiple loan-modification offers that would have reduced her monthly payment by up to 30 percent and an offer to sell the house back to her for less than half of what was owed on the mortgage.

When none of those offers were accepted, GMAC took steps to have Williams removed from the property. The company gave her a check for $5,000 to help with relocation costs.

“GMAC Mortgage sincerely sympathizes with Rosemary Williams and the financial difficulties she is facing,” said Jeannine Bruin, executive director of GMAC Mortgage Communications, in a statement. “Friday’s actions were very difficult, and a regrettable end to 18 months of seeking a solution with Ms. Williams, with local non-profits and with the mortgage investor to keep her in the home on Clinton Avenue. Unfortunately, Ms. Williams was chronically unable to meet her payment commitments under the adjustable rate mortgage she originated with BNC Mortgage, Inc.

Here’s the entire statement from Bruin:

GMAC Mortgage sincerely sympathizes with Rosemary Williams and the financial difficulties she is facing. Friday’s actions were very difficult, and a regrettable end to 18 months of seeking a solution with Ms. Williams, with local non-profits and with the mortgage investor to keep her in the home on Clinton Avenue.

Unfortunately, Ms. Williams was chronically unable to meet her payment commitments under the adjustable rate mortgage she originated with BNC Mortgage, Inc.

Since December 2007, we have repeatedly extended options to Ms. Williams to reach an affordable, reasonable payment solution, while balancing our contractual obligations to the mortgage servicer and mortgage investor, Aurora Services and Lehman Brothers Holdings, respectively.

Our efforts included:

o Multiple loan modification offers to reduce her monthly payment by 30% and fix her interest rate.
o Two offers to purchase the property for as low as 48% of her unpaid mortgage balance.
o Two offers to lease the property for $850 per month, a 60% reduction in her monthly payment. One offer included a purchase option at 48% of her unpaid mortgage balance.
o Three offers of cash relocation assistance of $5,000, including a check payable to Rosemary Williams that was given to her Friday.
o Two rounds of negotiations with local non-profits to reach a purchase and lease agreement on Ms. Williams’ behalf.

As custodian of the property at 3138 Clinton Avenue, we were concerned about the breach of security and its potential impact on public safety and the integrity of the property. At our request, local authorities are enforcing the writ of eviction served on August 7 and removing all trespassers from the property, both now and in the future.

We stand by our actions knowing that we have consistently acted in good faith to find a solution for Ms. Williams, and have repeatedly tried to ensure that she has funding sufficient to secure temporary housing.

Labels: Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Rosemary Williams

Cheri Honkala of PPEHRC speaks about Rosemary Williams

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Rosemary Williams March on the Minneapolis Mayor's office 8-19-09 - Part 1 of 5

Part 2 | Part 3| Part 4 | Part 5

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Candlelight Vigil For Rosemary Williams - Part 1 of 3

Part 2 | Part 3

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Rosemarry Williams and Ann Paterson Interview - Part 1 of 2

Part 2

Labels: Ann Patterson, Cheri Honkala, Foreclosure, GMAC, Rosemary Williams

Racewire Blog
Channing Kennedy
A Just Cause vs. an Unjust Eviction: Q&A with Karen Mims [VIDEO]




Last year, a speculator showed up to inspect Karen Mims’ home. That’s how Karen found out that her home of 12 years was getting foreclosed on.

Fast-forward through a year of legal struggles and unanswered phone calls. At 6:00 AM on Tuesday, August 11, a crowd of over 50 people gathered outside Karen’s house in East Oakland’s foreclosure-plagued District 7, as part of Just Cause Oakland’s protest of her eviction. Karen has found herself nearly out of options, and at this point must file with the court for a stay of eviction on a day-by-day basis.

Karen’s story is by no means uncommon these days. Homecoming, the company that initially took on her refinanced loan in 2007, lost a payment of hers. After Homecoming was bought out by Delaware-based Aurora Loan Services, Aurora agreed to place Karen in a repayment plan. They also could have modified Karen’s loan, changing either the number of payments or the amount of each payment while leaving the total sum owed the same. Instead, Aurora filed for a court order to evict.

Foreclosures have hit communities of color hardest of all. As the Applied Research Center’s Race and Recession report notes, redlining and other racist policies in past decades helped make communities of color into prime territory for unregulated subprime loans and predatory lenders. As a result, middle- and upper-income Black families were more likely than low-income white families to be sold a subprime loan.

What makes Karen’s story so frustrating, thought this is by no means unique to her, is Aurora’s response to her attempts to get her loan modified. Aurora’s approach has been — very simply — not to pick up the phone. Ever. For anyone. The office of District 7 Councilman Larry Reid had called Aurora 22 times as of two weeks ago, with no response. Just Cause Oakland has a campaign organized specially to call Aurora until someone answers.

Aurora's ability to act or not act without consequences is symptomatic of the federal governments mismanagement of the foreclosure crisis. In an interview with KPFA (direct audio mp3 link), Just Cause Oakland's Matt Nelson points out that financial giant Wells Fargo claims to have neither a plan for dealing with an increased volume of foreclosures and loan modifications, nor the resources to train up their staff to handle them. This is the same Wells Fargo that's received $25 billion in taxpayer money as part of the bank bailout, by the way.

While measures like Making Homes Affordable help some homeowners, the qualifications are prohibitively restrictive. And while Oakland passed Measure EE, the Just Cause Act, in 2002, the measure only protects renters whose landlords face foreclosure. Neither law helps Karen, a homeowner who's willing to negotiate, but whose loan company won't even answer the phone.

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I spoke with Karen on Thursday, the day before her first stay of eviction expired.

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RaceWire: You bought your house back in 1997. Why did you want to buy a house?

Karen Mims: I bought a house for a sense of stability. I wanted to have a place where anyone I knew could have a place to stay, if they became unexpectedly ill, or if they just fell on hard times. And I did have a couple of friends staying with me who were in need, but since the foreclosure, they've moved out.

RW: Control of your loan was passed around to several companies, as banks bought and sold bundled mortgages and as agencies got absorbed into each other. While your mortgage is now held by Aurora, it was initially through Homecoming. When you refinanced in 2007, why did you choose Homecoming?

KM: I actually didn't choose Homecoming -- that was just the group picked by the real estate agent that I worked with when I refinanced. He picked them, I assume, because he thought that going with them would be a good idea.

RW: What does your neighborhood look like? Is it predominantly people of color?

KM: My neighborhood is mostly people of color -- Hispanic and African-American. The foreclosure crisis crosses the ethnic line, however.

RW: Does your neighborhood have a lot of foreclosures? Has it always?

KM: The whole neighborhood is inundated with foreclosures, completely inundated. It kind of has the appearance of a ghost town. You'll see a family one week, and the next time you look up, they're gone. It's been that way for a couple of years or more. Before then, maybe you just didn't hear about it, due to the silence of the people involved; they wouldn't want to divulge a lot of their personal affairs.

As the crisis began to build, though, it became unmissable. I took a tour a few months back, just to meet everyone, but — so many of the houses were abandoned! I wanted to make an effort to sit down and communicate, and to be more effective then one person working alone; to be a group of people working together.

RW: And speaking of working together... Once Aurora's application for a court order for eviction was approved, the only thing that could legally stop it was another court order, which you got. The most visible part of Just Cause Oakland's work has been rallying the community, but they've also helped you work through the courts to stay in your home. Tell us about that.

KM: Just Cause has been wonderful. They've given me a lot of really firm support; I have nothing but admiration for them. With Just Cause's help, I applied for a stay with the court, and so far I've been granted one. I'm applying for another stay on Friday; it's then up to the judge to approve it. And then I wait around until it's approved by the judge.

RW: Does Just Cause have more rallies planned around your case?

KM: Yes, there might be another rally at my home in the immediate future.

RW: How do groups like Aurora make money off of foreclosures? How does it benefit them to evict rather than to modify a loan?

KM: I don't know. I honestly haven't figured that one out.

RW: What's the big-picture solution to the foreclosure crisis?

KM: We need strong, solid legislation that helps people like myself, and so far, politicians as a group have been shying away from that. They really need to hear the voices of everyone who's affected -- not just the homeowners, but their daughters who get affected, their mothers who get affected, the neighborhood, and everyone who's affected by the economy. I don't know who hasn't been touched by it! We need to stand collectively.

RW: Do you feel optimistic about the future?

KM: I do. It's by no means easy at all; it's a very stressful situation to be in, but I feel as though I'm in good hands, and we're taking it day by day and we're standing our ground. After all, it is a just cause.

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From Just Cause Oakland:

We must keep on the pressure. Karen Mims needs our support. Please call Aurora Loan Services’ legal representative, Nicole Kim, at (720) 945-3217, and the loan officer in charge of Karen’s loan, Carrie Black, at (720) 945-4566.

We are demanding they rescind the eviction for Karen Mims, Loan No. 0021802152. Just Cause Oakland is also asking for people to make donations to Karen so that she can stay in her home. The rent that Aurora is asking her to pay is $50 a day. If you can donate a day or part of a day, that would be greatly appreciated. To make a donation, contact Just Cause Oakland at JustCauseOakland.org, or at (510) 763-5877.

Video at top: Lisa Gray-Garcia of POOR Magazine interviews Ray Leon, representative for Oakland's District 7 Councilmember Larry Reid, at Just Cause Oakland's rally at the home of Karen Mims. Check out Lisa's coverage of the event at SF BayView. Photos courtesy of Just Cause Oakland.

Labels: Aurora Loan Services, Eviction, Foreclosure, Karen Mims

by Elizabeth Baier, Minnesota Public Radio
August 12, 2009
Original Article: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/12/woman-resists-eviction/

Robbinsdale, Minn. — Rosemary Williams' public battle to stay in her foreclosed home has inspired at least one other Twin Cities woman, who now vows to resist eviction from her own home in Robbinsdale.

Linda Norenberg sat on her front steps Wednesday and said she would fight eviction like Williams, who has staged a months-long rally and gathered support from several community organizations.

"We're both 60 years old. We're both in family-owned houses," Norenberg said Wednesday. "I want to stay here. I love it here. I love the neighborhood."

The two women met over the weekend when Norenberg joined other activists outside Williams' Minneapolis home. Williams told the crowd she will remain in the house despite being ordered to leave by Hennepin County Sheriff's deputies.

On Wednesday, it was Williams who sat on Norenberg's steps, holding a sign that read "Save Mom's Home." Williams vowed to continue to encourage other foreclosed homeowners to remain in their homes.

"Why would we want to lose a person that's so rooted in the community?" Williams said. "It makes no sense. None at all."

Norenberg's house has been in her family for 65 years. She said her father built the home in 1944, and she bought in 1977 after he died.

Her problems began when she had to refinance her home twice over the years because of job loss and low wages. She said she lost her job as a school bus driver after getting a DWI in 2003.

It was my first DWI ever," she said. "I had been driving for a living for many years."

Norenberg was unable to keep up with the $1,200 monthly mortgage payments, and the house was sold at a sheriff's sale in January. Chase Home Mortgage sold the house to CitiMortgage for $91,000, Norenberg said.

Norenberg was supposed to leave July 30, but has remained in the home, despite the risk of arrest. She now who makes $9.45 an hour working as a supermarket cashier and said she wants to renegotiate with her lender.

"I'm still in the house and I'm on pins and needles," said Norenberg, adding that the sheriff has not served her with an eviction order yet. "I'm stressed. I've got stuff packed up 'cause I don't know when they're going to come out."

Labels: Chase Home Mortgage, Eviction, Foreclosure, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Linda Norenberg, Rosemary Williams

A fifth day has passed without arrests of supporters who are occupying the home of Rosemary Williams.

A very moving candlelight vigil was held on her front lawn Monday evening with participation by people of many faiths. 

The next day Tuesday, August 11, 2009, plans were scrapped to hold a demonstration at the mayor's office due to the following letter received by Rosemary Williams' lawyer, sent from the law firm of Faagre & Benson LLP that represents GMAC: 

"GMAC offered $5000 to Ms. Williams to assist in her relocation costs and to allow her to move out of the home peacefully and avoid further complications.

Please discuss this with your colleague Emily Chow (766-8012) before noon. If we do not hear from you by that time, GMAC  will proceed with contacting the Mpls. Police to secure the property. 

As officers of the Court, we have an obligation to abide by the law and the Court's ruling in this case. We presented and argued our cases before the Court and the court has ruled. You have elected not to appeal that ruling, so the Order is final. I hope that you consider your obligation seriously as you advise your client about her options. GMAC has done everything possible to help Ms. Williams, except giving her the property for free. It has negotiated with potential buyers, extended the deadline for eviction and significantly discounted the sale price of the home. There is nothing left to do.

Even all the protesters and so-called supporters who are claiming to help her can't come up with the money to buy the property at the reduced rate. This is an opportunity for your client to vacate the property peacefully so she can move on with her life and GMAC can start the process of preparing the home for resale. I sincerely hope you and your client will choose the peaceful option." 

So how did Rosemary respond to GMAC's offer? "NO WAY!" --which immediately spurred us on to step up our demand for an END TO EVICTIONS AND A MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES!

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Dear Senator Franken,

Last night, Monday, Aug. 10, at 8pm we at CHAM Deliverance Ministry In San Jose, California prayed for the family of Rosemary Williams. We prayed In solidarity with the vigil held at her home at 3138 Clinton Street In Minneapolis. We stand In solidarity with Rosemary Williams's struggle to keep her home and against foreclosures and evictions around the country.

We are united In opposition to foreclosures and evictions that have been ravaging our communities and destroying families. We call on GMAC to come to the table and use the millions of dollars provided by the government to help families renegotiate their loans. We call on all the banks to come to the table to save Rosemary's home and end foreclosures and evictions around the country.

Sincerely,

Sandy Perry

Outreach Minister

CHAM Deliverance Ministry

80 S. Fifth St.

San Jose, CA 95112

408-691-6153

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Defying Foreclosure, Owner And Protesters Wait Reporting
by Bill Hudson

Original Article: http://wcco.com/neweconomy/defying.foreclosure.protesters.2.1124336.html

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Sixty-year-old Rosemary Williams lived in the home at 3138 Clinton Avenue South in Minneapolis for the past 23 years. It's the only neighborhood she's ever known, having lived on the same block for the past 55 years.

A simple blue sided, two-story home on the Minneapolis' south side has become emblematic of the nation's foreclosure crisis.

"People are willing to go to jail to get justice for Rosemary Williams," said Mick Kelly.

He's one of several dozen activists camped at the house in defiance of a sheriff's eviction order.

Sixty-year-old Rosemary Williams lived in the home at 3138 Clinton Avenue South in Minneapolis for the past 23 years. It's the only neighborhood she's ever known, having lived on the same block for the past 55 years.

Her troubles began last December when Williams lost her job and then received the terrifying news from her mortgage company. The interest rate on her GMAC adjustable rate mortgage shot up to 10 percent. You can imagine what that did to her monthly payment.

"It jumped from $1200 to $2200 in one year," said Williams.

Unemployed and looking for work, Williams was unable to make her payments and fell further and further behind. This summer, GMAC initiated foreclosure and in early July the company executed a formal eviction.

"You've got millions of people already been foreclosed on, millions more are coming. The economy cannot turn around and stop until we have a moratorium on foreclosures," Williams pointed out.

Ever since the eviction order was served by the Hennepin County Sheriff, a growing number of activists have been gathering in front of William's home. They've posted dozens of signs and banners, pointing to what they claim is an injustice being orchestrated by lenders.

Meantime, some of Williams' valuables are being moved out. At the same time, sympathetic protesters have moved in. They vow to resist any request to leave the property, assuring a mass arrest for trespassing.

Beyond the fight over bank foreclosures, activists are also critical of the government's attempt at a loan modification system. It's a system they say is also failing distressed homeowners despite the billions of dollars being pumped into the banking system.

Cheri Hankala has worked with troubled homeowners through the Minnesota Poor People's Economic Human Rights Coalition

She said the loan modification system didn't help Williams and is failing others in the same dire situation.

"We can't find one person out there that has benefited or been a part of any loan modification program in order to save their home," said Hankala.

Attempts to reach GMAC Home Mortgage to discuss this particular case were not successful. They did not return WCCO's phone calls.

So, with posters and prayer, the sit-in continues. A waiting game that will eventually conclude with a forced eviction and one woman's painful foreclosure on the front page.

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Rosemary Williams
Occupation at Williams' House Goes Into Second Night
Submitted by haloka on Sat, 08/08/2009 - 20:10
in

* Local
* foreclosures
* Housing
* Minneapolis
* Organizing
* people's bailout
* PPEHRC
* Rosemary Williams
* Feature

TAKE ACTION: Tuesday morning at 9:30am meet at Rosemary's house--3138 Clinton-- then go together to the mayor's office at 10am to demand a just resolution to Rosemary's situation.

Related: MPR Update says police waiting for opinion of city attorney | Fighting foreclosures in North MPLS from TCDP

Monday evening: Ninety to a hundred people attended a candlelight vigil at Rosemary Williams's house. Religious folks and other community activists spoke. "God opened the door," said one speaker, describing the occupation.

Monday: 4th day of occupation; approx. 15 people stayed at the house last night; many more there this morning. | Article & Video from Fight Back News

Sunday Update: Press conference at Rosemary's house, 8am Monday.

The occupation at Rosemary Williams' home at 3138 Clinton in Minneapolis enters its second night tonight. On Friday night, about 20 people, including Rosemary Williams herself, spent the night at the home after a no trespassing order was given earlier in the day. At a 4pm press conference this rainy and humid Saturday, the usual crowd of activists from MN PPEHRC and the Coalition for a People's Bailout (twitter feed), bolstered by growing support and donations of food and supplies from neighbors, rallied to the defense of Williams' home. Some pushed for GMAC to finally negotiate; others concluded that the only option left is to defend the house with their bodies.

The question now is what the Minneapolis Police will do next. A police spokesman has said they'll respond if a trespassing complaint is received - but what that means is anyone's guess. For now, says Rosemary, "We can't give up, that's the bottom line. We have to band together to make this happen." People will continue to occupy the house around the clock.

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Monday, 10 Aug 2009, 8:33 AM CDT
Original Article: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/Rosemary_Williams_Eviction_Protest_Aug_10_2009
MINNEAPOLIS - The fight to keep Rosemary Williams in her foreclosed home on Clinton Avenue in south Minneapolis continued Monday morning. Even after her eviction on Friday.

Since Hennepin County sheriff's deputies evicted Williams from her house at 32nd and Clinton four days ago, friends and supporters have been rotating shifts and protesting on the property, with a very large protest planned for Monday.

Rosemary Williams has lived in her home at 3138 Clinton Ave. S. for 26 years, and has become the poster child for the foreclosure crisis in Minneapolis.

Deal to save her home recently fell through and on Friday she was evicted and the locks were changed. But soon, friends and supporters with the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign were able to get inside the house and remove all her belongings.

In three years, Rosemary Williams had lost her job and her mortgage went from $900 to $2,600 per month. But in July, a judge ruled against her defense that she was a victim fo predatory lending and ruled she needed $49,000 to appeal the case.

Protesters are still fighting for Williams. A Press conference started at 8 a.m. Monday and the group has said it plans to stay at 32nd and Clinton until they are forcibly removed by police

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Aug 10, 2009 12:06 pm US/Central
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ― Dozens of protesters are waging a sit-in at a foreclosed home in south Minneapolis. in south Minneapolis.

On Friday, officers evicted Rosemary Williams from her home on the 3100 block of Clinton Avenue South, after she missed some mortgage payments to GMAC. Williams is a long-time resident of the area.

Williams said she's a victim of predatory lending. Last month, a judge who heard her case ruled against her and said she would have to either come up with the money she owes, or leave.

Williams and her supporters want GMAC to restart the negotiations to modify her mortgage.

Since the foreclosure Friday, protesters have taken over the home, coming and going in shifts. On Monday, some said they're willing to stay as long as needed: weeks, months, even a year.

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Protest, Rosemary Williams

Standoff at Rosemary's House

Labels: Ann Patterson, Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

For release: August 10, 2009

NEIGHBORS AND SUPPORTERS OF ROSEMARY WILLIAMS DEMAND MEETING WITH MAYOR

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 10:00 a.m., neighbors, friends, supporters of Rosemary Williams along with the faith community will go to Mayor Rybak's office. We will demand to meet with Mayor Rybak and insist that he stop police from evicting Rosemary from her home, and that the mayor take action to keep Rosemary in her home.

On Friday, Aug. 7th, Rosemary Williams and her family endured a snap eviction from the house Rosemary has been fighting to save for over a year. Neighbors, supporters and community members rushed to the house at 3138 Clinton to defend the home. Dozens of supporters have slept on the floors and have held an overnight watch at the front and back doors. During the days, hundreds of people have pitched in for rallies, massive moves of Ms. Williams's belongings, and organizing meals and community gatherings.

Mayor Rybak needs to see that forcing Ms. Williams and her supporters from the home is the wrong thing to do. It is time for Mayor Rybak to address the foreclosure crisis in our city and to keep Rosemary Williams in her home.

Rosemary Williams, her neighbors, friends, and supporters will continue this struggle as long as it take to get justice.

MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, Mick Kelly 612-715-3280, Linden Gawboy 612-296-5649

MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign: Cheri Honkala 267-439-8419, Ann Patterson 612-940-1040


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Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Mayor R.T. Rybak
City Hall, Room 331
350 South Fifth Street
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: (612) 673-2100
Fax: (612) 673-2305
Email contact form: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/forms/mayor-opinion/

Congressman Keith Ellison (he should be in district on House recess)
Minneapolis Office
2100 Plymouth Avenue N
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Phone: (612) 522-1212 Fax: 612-522-9915
Email contact: https://forms.house.gov/ellison/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm

Senator Al Franken (in DC until Aug. 8 recess)
320 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
WASHINGTON DC 20510
DC Phone: 202-224-5641
MN Phone: 651-221-1016
E-mail: info@franken.senate.gov

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

CALL FOR SUPPORT - Resistance Continues - 24 hour Presence of Supporters Needed
Yesterday around 2pm the Hennepin County Sheriff's Department officially evicted Rosemary Williams, removing all occupants and locking many of Rosemary's possessions into her home. Thankfully, last night Rosemary was able to sleep peacefully in her home. The community mobilized quickly, first re-opening the home then rallying outside and carrying out possessions to temporary storage in volunteers' vans. Throughout the afternoon and evening over 100 members of the community came to rally and show support.

Here's a link to some of the news coverage:

http://www.startribune.com/local/52713662.html?elr=KArks:DCiUnP::DE8c7PiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Members of MN PPEHRC, the Coalition for a People's Bailout, and community members will continue to fight and occupy the property until Rosemary's home is secure. The more people who are present at the home at any given time, the less the chances are of forced removal at the hands of the police department. We are maintaining a constant presence at the home, 24 hours a day.

Come by and show your support whenever you can. Stay for as long as you can and spread the word. We plan on keeping this home as long as possible to pressure the city and the banks to accept a deal that will allow Rosemary to keep her home.

Come anytime to 3138 Clinton Ave S. Bring friends, family, musical instruments and entertainment.

AND...HERE'S ANOTHER UPDATE RE. BARBARA BYRD'S STAND
Barbara Byrd, African American working woman fighting to stay in her duplex in Brooklyn Park, will NOT appear in court on August 10th as scheduled. Her date in district court to present her case against EMC has been rescheduled for Wednesday, September 16th at 1pm. Room number to be verified.
No Evictions, No Foreclosures! Housing is a Human Right!

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

For release: August 9, 2009


Fight to save Rosemary's house continues!

As weekend ends, danger of police raid looms Monday morning.


Media conference

Monday, August 10, 8:00 a.m.

3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis


On Friday, Aug. 7th, Rosemary Williams and her family endured a snap eviction from the home Rosemary has been fighting to save for over a year. Ms. Williams was given less than 90 minutes to decide which of her 60+ years of history to empty into her vehicle. That is how long it took the sheriff's people to change the locks.


Immediately, neighbors, supporters and community members rushed to the house at 3138 Clinton. Almost as immediately, plans were made to make sure Ms. Williams was able to retreive her belongings and reclaim access to her home. Part of those plans included supporters taking a stand inside and outside the house, determined to defend the home.


For two nights, up to 20 supporters have slept on the floors and have held an overnight watch at the front and back doors. During the days, upwards of 75 people at a time have pitched in for rallies, massisve moves of Ms. Williams belongings, and organizing simple family barbeques and birthday parties.


But tomorrow, we will be prepared for the situation to escalate. A nationwide call has been put out for members of the public to call GMAC, insisting that they start negotgiating in good faith with Ms. Williams so she and her family can keep her home. GMAC's stalling and outright fabrications have stymied efforts for Ms. Williams to explore all the avenues available to her. We have been exposing the rotteness of GMAC's tactics to the public, and people around the country are taking inpiration from Rosemary Williams's fight.


Monday, GMAC has to make a choice. Agree to negotiate in good faith, or continue to be exposed for its role in destroying homes, neighborhoods, and our communities...all the while grubbing at the trough of billions in federal bailout money.


Contacts: MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, Mick Kelly:612-715-3280, Linden Gawboy:612-296-5649

MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign:Cheri Honkala 267-439-8419 Ann Patterson 612-940-1040

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Press Conference: Deal to save Rosemary Williams’s home falls through.

Deal to save Rosemary Williams's home falls through.

Coming together AGAIN to stop Rosemary's eviction:
News conference: Monday, August 3, 11:00 a.m.
3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis

On Friday, July 31, at about 3:00 p.m., Rosemary Williams got word that the deal with Greater Metropolitan Housing Corporation (GMHC) to buy her home fell through. This, after the drama of July 24, when shortly after a 24-hour eviction notice was served, she got word that GMHC was to purchase her home and arrange to lease it back to her. A week of relief and celebration and hope was capped off by Friday's devastating news.

Rosemary is not giving up on trying to save her home, and the community is not giving up either. We are mobilizing community members, organizations and all those who want to fight the housing crisis to stand guard at Rosemary's house and do whatever we can to stop the eviction.

At Monday's news conference, we will give an update on our plans to save Rosemary's home, as well as any additional information about the current situation.

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. She has been fighting to save her home for almost a year now. After months of non-communication from the mortgage holders, an eviction was ordered this spring. Ms. Williams, along with dozens of community supporters, tried to use the courts to stop the eviction, only to find out that pursuing "justice" would cost us $49,000. Meanwhile Rosemary has also been desperately trying to get financing to save her home, a process that takes time, especially in this economic and bank climate. Through it all, Ms. Williams makes it clear that she is standing up to inspire everyone to fight against these unjust foreclosures and evictions.

MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, mn-peoples-bailout.org, 612-296-5649, Linden Gawboy
MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, 651-497-4644, Lynette Malles

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Allie Shah, Star Tribune

Rosemary Williams, third woman from right (partly obscured by man), learned hours after getting an eviction notice that she doesn’t have to leave. Supporters had been prepared to fight through civil disobedience.

A Minneapolis nonprofit developer has agreed to buy the home of Rosemary Williams and strike a deal so she can stay there.

By ALLIE SHAH, Star Tribune

Last update: July 25, 2009 - 8:18 AM

Rosemary Williams, whose fight to stay in her foreclosed home in Minneapolis has attracted national attention, has won a last-minute reprieve -- and possibly more.

Hours after getting an eviction notice Friday, Williams, standing barefoot on the wooden porch outside the house where she's lived for 23 years, said she learned that she can stay for now and, perhaps, for good.

The Greater Metropolitan Housing Corp., a local nonprofit developer, said it has agreed to buy the home from GMAC Mortgage and allow Williams to live there through a rental or other arrangement.

"It's all taken care of. We expect to close within a week," the organization's president, Carolyn Olson, said Friday evening. Olson said that she had signed the paperwork to buy the home for $90,000 and sent it to GMAC. GMAC officials could not immediately be reached.

The Hennepin County Sheriff's Office had served the eviction notice on Williams, 60, early Friday, which would have required her to leave within the next few days.

She and her supporters had planned to block authorities from removing her by using non-violent civil disobedience and scheduled a news conference Friday to detail their plans.

Instead, Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden announced the negotiations between a potential buyer and GMAC that would allow Williams to stay.

"We know that the Sheriff's Office is holding off," Glidden told the crowd, who cheered loudly.

Lisa Kiava, a spokeswoman for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, said Williams had been served paperwork, adding, "we're not taking any action on the writ of execution until we have more information."

Williams is a divorced mother of three who took out an adjustable-rate mortgage to get $12,000 to pay some bills. Her payment jumped from $1,200 to $2,200 a month. At the same time, she lost her job and stopped making payments. The house went into foreclosure and was sold at an auction last fall.

She was ordered to leave the house by March 30, but she refused. The new owner, GMAC Mortgage, went to court to have her evicted.

Williams' family has lived on Clinton Avenue for more than 50 years, and she and her mother built the house where she now lives.

There are seven foreclosed homes on her block, including a boarded-up one across the street that was tagged recently with this sardonic message: "What housing crisis?"

Williams' case has attracted the interest of filmmaker Michael Moore, she said, as well as several local organizations. They include the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout and the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign.

"She has become a symbol of what so many people are going through," Glidden said.

Sitting on her porch Friday after the crowd left, Williams said: "I had a sign in my bathroom that said, 'I believe in miracles.' This morning I looked at that sign and said, 'Yes.'"

Allie Shah • 612-673-4488

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Today, July 24, at 9:15 a.m., the Hennepin County Sheriff's office knocked on the door of Rosemary Williams, 3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis. They handed her an eviction notice, stating that she and her family (including two grandbabies) had to be out of the house by Monday. Ms. Williams, along with the MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign and the MN Coalition for People's Bailout were already prepared with a press conference to announce plans to resist the eviction. 

Twenty minutes before the press conference, Rosemary Williams got a phone call from Minneapolis Councilmember Elizabeth Glidden.  Word came through that a buyer had been found for the house, and that Ms. Williams could get a chance to lease her home with an option to buy it outright. In any case, the sheriffs were called off. And Rosemary stays in her home. 

"This victory shows that when you fight back, you can win," said Linden Gawboy, of the MN Coalition for a People's Bailout. "Rosemary has lit the path for millions of others in this country. Stay, stay, stay. Never give up. Our communities depend on us staying." 

Cheri Honkala, of the MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign stated, "Rosemary's victory proves the strength of people's power. Through a unified struggle made up of directly affected people and allies, mega-corporations like GMAC have run scared. Rosemary has won." 

Rosemary Williams has lived on the same block in South Minneapolis for 55 years. Since she began her fight against foreclosures, she has been speaking not just for herself, but for all others in the same situation. She has testified at the legislature, before the city council and attempted a ground-breaking court case to save her home. She is a heroic example to everyone that taking a stand can have results. 

"This is what  happens when organizations and community come together and work collectively," said Rosemary Williams. "I just want to encourage everyone to not just leave in the night like they want you to. Fight for what is yours." 
 

MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, mn-peoples-bailout.org, 612-822-8020, 612-296-5649

MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, 612-940-1040, 267-439-8419 
 

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

EMERGENCY ALERT. Save Rosemary's Home!

Today, Thursday July 23, at about 11:00 a.m., Judge Zimmerman issued a "Writ of Recovery" on behalf of GMAC. This means GMAC can seize Rosemary Williams's home as soon as Friday (TOMORROW). The sheriff could post the eviction notice as soon as TODAY. Then the sheriff wants the house vacated in 24 hours.

Here is the plan:
--Right after the sheriff posts the notice of eviction, we will put out a call to have EVERYONE stand guard at Rosemary's house - 3138 Clinton Ave, Mpls. Make plans now as to what your role will be as we stop this eviction. Again, it is likely that we will have to be there tomorrow.

--Press conference:
Friday, July 24, 1:00 p.m.
Rosemary's house: 3138 Clinton Ave S, Minneapolis
 
SOME CALLS TO MAKE:
Call GMAC: Call GMAC in the Twin Cities and the national headquarters.
Twin Cities: 952-806-9705
GMAC Headquarters: 215-734-8899
Tell them to retract the writ of recovery and let Rosemary try to save her home. She has been desperately trying to get financing to save her home, a process that takes time.

Call Fraegre and Benson: GMAC is represented by the law firm of Fraegre and Benson. Rosemary asks that you call them at 612-766-7000 and tell them to "undo the Writ of Recovery" on Rosemary's home.

Call these elected officials
Mayor RT Rybak:  612-673-2100
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison: 202-225-4755
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar: 202-224-3244
U.S. Sen. Al Franken: 202-224-5641
Demand that they call GMAC and order GMAC to retract the writ of recovery. Banks got billions of dollars in bailout money. Now is their chance to help the people who the banks screwed over.

Rosemary Williams is a 55-year resident of the Central Neighborhood in south Minneapolis. Rosemary has been a fighter against the foreclosure crisis for nearly a year, giving inspiration to others to fight back. Now is the time for all the community to show support. Clear your calendars and take a stand!

We will put our more info later.

MN Coalition for a People's Bailout, www.mn-peoples-bailout.org, 612-822-8020, 612-296-5649
MN Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, 612-940-1040

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

--
Arun Prabhakaran
t: 215.888.0889
e: prabhakaran.arun@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aprabhakaran
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/arunprabhakaran
Twitter: http://twitter.com/aruntis

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

--
Arun Prabhakaran
t: 215.888.0889
e: prabhakaran.arun@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aprabhakaran
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/arunprabhakaran
Twitter: http://twitter.com/aruntis

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

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Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Jordan Kushner, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Embattled homeowner needs to post a $49,940 bond by Monday. Her supporters may try to block the eviction.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: http://www.startribune.com/local/49133962.html?page=1&c=y

By ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune

Last update: June 26, 2009 - 6:01 AM

A Minneapolis woman who has battled eviction could be forced out of her house as early as next week unless she can post a $50,000 bond.

Although negotiations between Rosemary Williams and GMAC Mortgage still are underway, Hennepin County District Judge Lloyd Zimmerman ruled Thursday that Williams must post a bond of $49,940 by Monday.

Public plea for donations

If Williams does not come up with the money, GMAC could obtain an eviction notice as soon as Tuesday. Williams and her supporters made a public plea for donations. Meanwhile, they vow to try to physically block the eviction and face arrest.

"We are absolutely outraged and think this is a violation of all her rights as a citizen," said Cheri Honkala, an activist for the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign and a friend of Williams. "This $49,000 determines whether she has a right to due process."

Honkala said "hundreds" would show up at the home to protest and try to prevent an eviction. Williams' home in the 3100 block of Clinton Avenue S. was sold in September as part of a foreclosure begun after she fell behind on payments on a second, adjustable-rate mortgage.

'Nuisance property' suit

After Williams, 60, failed to leave the house by March 30, GMAC went to court to have her evicted. Williams' attorneys fought the eviction, but on June 18 Judge Zimmerman granted GMAC summary judgment.

Separately, last month, the Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) and 17 of Williams' neighbors filed a lawsuit contending that if Williams is forced out, her home will become another nuisance property in the neighborhood.

Zimmerman dismissed the suit, saying that because Williams lives at the property, all allegations of nuisances are hypothetical and that the plaintiffs failed to prove any "wrongful conduct" by GMAC.

In a statement, GMAC spokeswoman Jeannine Bruin said because Williams intends to appeal, she cannot discuss the ongoing court matter.

"GMAC Mortgage continues to be open to reaching an agreeable settlement with Ms. Williams in this matter," she wrote.

Williams' attorney, Jordan Kushner, said he expected the judge to require a bond but didn't expect it to be so high.

"GMAC Mortgage continues to be open to reaching an agreeable settlement with Ms. Williams in this matter," she wrote.

Williams' attorney, Jordan Kushner, said he expected the judge to require a bond but didn't expect it to be so high.

Abby Simons • 612-673-4921

Labels: CANDO, Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Jordan Kushner, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams, Star Tribune

Today, in Minneapolis, Judge Zimmerman ruled for that Rosemary Williams would need to post a bond of $49,000 in order to appeal the foreclosure of her home. She can be evicted anytime beginning on Monday. PPEHRC members will speak about their response and plans at 2PM today at Rosemary Williams' home at 3138 Clinton Avenue South.

FOR MORE INFO: Call Cheri Honkala at 267-439-8419 or Ann Patterson at 612-940-1040

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams

Labels: Ann Patterson, Eviction, Foreclosure, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN PPEHRC, Ona Kingbird, Rosemary Williams

by Madeleine Baran, Minnesota Public Radio
June 18, 2009

Rosemary Williams at a May 26 protest outside the Hennepin County Government Center. Williams and supporters gathered to protest her pending eviction from her foreclosed home. (MPR Photo / Madeleine Baran)





St. Paul, Minn. — A Minneapolis woman who has resisted eviction from her foreclosed home for months needs to vacate it within seven days, a Hennepin County judge ruled Wednesday.

Rosemary Williams has attracted widespread attention in recent months, as she partnered with local activists to fight eviction from the south Minneapolis home where she has lived for 26 years.

"This case is not just about me ... This is about our whole country."
- Rosemary Williams Negotiations with lender GMAC Mortgage will continue, but if a settlement is not reached, Williams, 60, will likely have no further legal recourse.

A separate lawsuit filed by her neighbors against her mortgage company was dismissed on Wednesday. The suit alleged that allowing foreclosed homes to sit vacant creates a public nuisance.

When Williams' mother died six years ago, Williams refinanced twice into an adjustable rate mortgage. The monthly payments shot up from $1,200 to $2,200. Her home was sold at a sheriff's auction in September.

Since April, activists have packed Williams' court hearings and held several rallies to call attention to the effect of foreclosures on low-income homeowners.

"This case is not just about me," Williams said before an April hearing. "This is about our whole country. We're here today to say the evictions have to stop."

Williams could not be reached for comment today.

In a statement released yesterday, GMAC spokesperson Jeannine Bruin stressed that efforts to negotiate with Williams will continue. "Even with the favorable judgment, our legal counsel met with the judge and Ms. Williams today to try to reach agreeable arrangements in this matter, as we did with Ms. Williams prior to the foreclosure and which we continue to do throughout these court proceedings," Bruin said.

Williams' supporters vow to engage in non-violent civil disobedience to prevent her eviction if a settlement is not reached. Activists say they are also prepared to conduct an emergency fundraising effort to help Williams pay any settlement costs.

"Right now, we're just crossing our fingers and praying," Cheri Honkala, an activist for the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, said.

Labels: Cheri Honkala, Demonstration, Economic Justice, Eviction, Foreclosure, GMAC, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, MN Coalition for a Peoples Bailout states, MN PPEHRC, PPEHRC, Rosemary Williams